USING NUMBERS

Rule 1: Spell out single-digit whole

numbers one to nine (1-9). Use numerals
for numbers greater than nine.
Examples:
She received three red roses.
Please photocopy two pages of the
document.
Rule 2: If numbers are given in series, for
example with numbers less and more
than ten, decide whether to spell out
numbers or to use numerals.
Examples:
The company manager owns three
cars, two houses and forty-five cab
units.
The supplies officer ordered 5 reams of
bond paper,12 dozens of pens, and 30
pieces of sketch pads.
The population of school is 2,050.
Rule 3: Spell out simple fractions and
hyphenate them.
Examples:
Three-fourths of the cake was eaten.
A two-thirds majority is requires for a
bill to pass in congress.
Rule 4: Express mixed fractions in figures
unless it is the first word in the sentence.
Examples:
The school increased its tuition fee by
8 percent.
Three and one-half percent is the
interest given to her by the bank.
Rule 5: Numbers must be spelled out in
ordinary writing. Exception to this rule
includes number written to indicate:

Examples:
Dates
The year 2009 brought an economic
depression globally.
Page, chapter, and sections of books
Our teacher required us to read page
25 of chapter 2.
Numbers of streets and places
She lives at 90 Champaca Street,
Manila.
Rule 6: Express large numbers in the
simplest way. Spell out large numbers.
Be consistent whether to write numerals
or words. If you spelled out the first
number, do the same with the other
number for consistency and parallelism.
Example:
Incorrect: A real estate agent can earn
from five hundred thousand to
5,000,000 pesos a year.
Correct: A real estate agent can earn
from 500,000 to 5,000,000 pesos a
year.
Correct: A real estate agent can earn
from 5 hundred thousand to 5 million
pesos a year.
Correct: A real estate agent can earn
from 500 thousand to 5 million pesos a
year.
Rule 7: Numbers are written out if they
begin a sentence except when they are
too numerous.
Examples:
Fifty Korean students are enrolled in
an English class.
5,875 examinees took the CPA board
examination.

Rule 8: Measurements, quantities, and

dimensions should be expressed in
figures. The word by is spelled out in
measurements, except in orders, listings,
or invoices.
Examples:
The travelers baggage exceeded 10
kilos.
The room measures 20 by 30 feet.
Rule 9: Expression of decades can be
spelled out and written in lower.
Example:
During the nineties, foreign students
flocked to the Philippines to sudy.
Rule 10: If you wish to express decades
in incomplete numerals, put an
apostrophe before the incomplete
numeral, but not between the year and
the s.
Example:
The US economy grew in the 80s and
90s.
Rule 11: Decades can also be expressed
in complete numerals. Again, do not use
as apostrophe between the year and the
s.
Example:
The US economy grew in the 1980s
and the 1990s.

Rule 12: Normally, the time of day is

spelled out in text even with half and
quarter hours. With oclock, the number
is always spelled out.
Examples:
My father is up at four thirty in the
morning.
My father is up at four oclock.

Rule 13: Use numerals with the time of

day when using A.M or P.M.
Examples:
Mr. Galuras flight is at 5:30 P.M.
The meeting is at 9:00 P.M.
Rule 14: Use noon and midnight rather
than 12:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M.
Ex:
Christina ate lunch at 12 noon.
Rules 15: Figures should be used in
numbers before the word percent unless
it is the first word in the sentence.
Ex:
Our sales decreased by 10 percent last
year.
Fifty pecent of the board takers passed
ng exam.
The loan he borrowed carried a 3%
interest.